The Hindu       28.08.2014

Coimbatore Master Plan to be ready soon

A revised Master Plan for Coimbatore is likely to take shape soon as the Government is expected to take it up as a time-bound project.

An official of Coimbatore Local Planning Authority (LPA) told The Hindu on Wednesday that students of Bharathidasan University had completed a survey of the existing land use in the LPA area. This needs to be verified by the officials and the process has started. The LPA will prepare a draft of the proposed land use and submit it to the Government.

Though this could take about a year, the State Government is monitoring the progress of the Master Plan preparation work and is expected to fix a deadline to complete it, the official said.

A revised Master Plan for the city is one of the long-pending demands of the district. With rapid development, industries and residential development need changes in land use classification.

K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, says the existing Master Plan for Coimbatore was prepared almost two decades ago and is obsolete now.

A revised Master Plan was expected seven years ago and it was almost ready. If preparation of the plan gets delayed after completing the initial survey, it will not serve any purpose. Developments after the survey will change the land use pattern and the purpose of the Master Plan will be defeated. Hence, preparation of the Master Plan should be given priority and completed on a time-bound manner.

The Hindu      28.08.2014  

Corporation embarks on greening programme

Corporation officials planting saplings at Sivanthakulam in Tuticorin on Tuesday.— Photo : N. Rajesh

The Tuticorin Corporation has embarked on a programme to increase greenery to maintain an eco-friendly environment. As part of the initiative, 20 saplings were planted in front of the corporation school on the Sivanthakulam Road here on Tuesday.

A team led by Pradeep V. Krishnakumar, City Health Officer, Tuticorin Corporation, and V. Hariganesh, Sanitary Inspector, planted saplings with protective shields.

Dr. Krishnakumar said afforestation would increase rainfall in drought-affected areas. “Our responsibility does not end with planting saplings, but watering the saplings every day is essential and people should bear it in mind,” he said.

If people came forward to grow trees such as ‘neem’, ‘pungai’, ‘banyan’ and other shade-tolerant species, the corporation would provide the saplings free of cost, he noted. The resident welfare associations of Muthammal Colony, Caldwell Colony and other areas of ward 34 had volunteered to plant a considerable number of saplings, he said. The objective was not only to cultivate more trees but also to weed out thorny shrub (Prosopis juliflora), which caused depletion of groundwater table.

Mr. Hariganesh said 3,000 tree saplings were planted last year.